ChicagoBusiness.com tells you how -- with this video about Lou Mitchell's on Route 66 in Chicago. (Hat tip: David Clark)

The Williams-Grand Canyon News, based in the Route 66 town of Williams, Ariz., has quite a story about the new owners of El Pinado Hotel and their ongoing efforts to restore the historic hotel on Second Street between Route 66 and Grand Avenue in Williams. Dennis and Pam Dreher, formerly of nearby Flagstaff, are removing … Continue reading Old hotel in Williams being restored

The City of Normal, Ill., is considering creating a tax-increment financing district to help assist in the renovation of a historic Route 66 gas station, reports the Bloomington Pantagraph. The gas station in question at 305 Pine St. is owned by Terri Ryburn. The Tudor Revival-style station was built in the 1930s and was recently … Continue reading Normal considers TIF district for old gas station

The long-closed Joliet Correctional Center just off Route 66 in Joliet, Ill., may be turned into a commercial project that caters mostly to tourists, reports the Herald-News. Discussions are in an early stage, but ideas include the creation of a museum or other venue that would invite tourists into the old prison on Collins Street. … Continue reading Old Joliet prison may be turned into tourism center

There's a bridge on Route 66 in Carthage, Mo., that's called the "Whee Bridge" or "Tickle Tummy Hill" because a hump in its apex causes an unsettling sensation as you drive over it. It's simply a quirk in the original design, and it's surprising how many locals are fond of it. But according to the … Continue reading Taking the ‘whee’ out of the ‘Whee bridge’?

The New Mexico Racing Commission said Wednesday it would announce on Aug. 25 which town would receive a license for a horse-racing track and casino, reported the Clovis News Journal. it's down to three finalists -- Santa Fe, Raton and the Route 66 town of Tucumcari. The time the announcement will be made is 1:30 … Continue reading Racino decision coming Aug. 25

The future does not look bright for the J.M. Davis Arms and Historical Museum on Route 66 in Claremore, Okla., reported the Tulsa World. The museum's foundation is suing the state, which oversees the museum's massive collection that's valued at tens of millions of dollars. The foundation is citing neglect, mismanagement and theft. The worst-case … Continue reading Gun museum in jeopardy?

I'm a bit dubious about the claims being made in Davenport, Okla. But regardless, the new, 32-foot-tall mural at Main and Broadway streets there is impressive. It was painted by Palmer Studios Inc. From the Shawnee News-Star: The painting, on the outside south wall of the building, depicts a handful of images related to Davenport’s … Continue reading Tallest mural on Route 66?

A 400-pound bronze statue that went missing three years ago from the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood, Ill., was found last week, reports the Joliet Herald-News. The statue was found Friday in an overgrown lot near Braceville, Ill., and is 100 percent intact. The statue was commissioned to honor workers who died in a … Continue reading Missing cemetery statue found

Residents of the Route 66 town of Galena, Kan., can rest easier. The animal seen on a surveillance video a few days ago was a common house cat, not a cougar or mountain lion, reported the Joplin (Mo.) Globe. The city's police department eliminated the possibility of a big cat with help from the state's … Continue reading Cat is out of the bag